Looking in the mirror 14th April 2008

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”. Colossians 3: 12- 17

This week, I’m going to base the devotionals around this scripture which was one of my readings last week but seems to have a lifetime’s worth of teaching in it. We’ll take it a phrase at the time.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,

It’s probably true to say that all we do and say ultimately comes out of our understanding of who we are or who we want to be. Paul recognised this when, before he gave these instructions for good living, he first reminded the Christians in Colosse who they were.

If you’ve got a mirror handy look at yourself in it – I wonder what you see. As you look you are looking at someone who is chosen (called to follow Jesus), holy (set apart for God) and dearly loved.

Say that to yourself, “I am chosen, holy and dearly loved” – don’t believe it? Then try,
“God has chosen me; God has made me holy; God dearly loves me”. It doesn’t depend on you or me but on God and his amazing, totally generous overflowing love which is directed personally to you right now.

The extent to which we realise that we are called and loved, just as we are, by God will determine the extent to which we can relax and stop worrying about the image we present. We can spend a lot of time trying to appear like we’ve “got it all together” or we’re wealthy, healthy, intelligent, physically fit, beautiful or successful; to make ourselves acceptable to those around us. As we grow to understand we are loved so completely by God, is it possible that we could learn to be ourselves with less concern for the image that we are presenting? After all, we are of ultimate value to God, so much so that Jesus died for us; nothing we can do or say will increase (or for that matter, decrease) that value.

Right now, just as you are: fat or thin; glossy haired or bald; depressed or elated; young or old; full of faith or barely holding on; over stressed or bored; however you find yourself today, You are chosen, holy and dearly loved by God.

Loving God, thank you for loving me so completely, help me to believe you when you say you love me and to live in the light of that love. Amen